Turk J Med Sci 2008; 38 (5): 485-487 CASE REPORT © TÜBİTAK E-mail: [email protected]

Unexpected Complication Due to flexneri in a Child: Acute Cüneyt TAYMAN1 1 Alpaslan TONBUL Abstract: Acute bacillary () occurs due to with shigella sp. The spectrum of Emin METE1 acute shigellosis ranges from mild watery to severe dysentery. Surgical complications of shigellosis described in children have included appendicitis with or without perforation, colonic perforation, intestinal 1 Ferhat ÇATAL obstruction, and intraabdominal abscess. Burhan KÖSEOĞLU² Acute appendicitis and infective diarrheal illness can be difficult to differentiate, particularly in children. Thus, patients must be followed up closely until the differentiation between bacterial and acute appendicitis can be made. We report herein a 10-year-old boy who had acute appendicitis due to .

Key Words: Acute appendicitis, Shigella flexneri, gastroenteritis, children

Bir Çocukta Shigella Flexneri'ye bağlı beklenmedik Komplikasyon: Akut 1 Department of Pediatrics, Apandisit Faculty of Medicine, Fatih University, Ankara - TURKEY Özet: Akut basilli dizanteri (şigelloz) Shigella sp infeksiyonu tarafından meydana getirilir. Akut şigelloz hafif 2 Department of Pediatric Surgery, sulu diyareden şiddetli dizanteriye kadar değişen bir spektrum gösterir. Akut şigellozun çocuklarda Faculty of Medicine, perforasyonlu veya perforasyonsuz apandisit, kolonik perforasyon, intestinal obstruksiyon ve intraabdominal Fatih University, abseyi içine alan komplikasyonları tanımlanmıştır. Akut apandisit ile infektif diyare hastalıklarının ayırt Ankara - TURKEY edilmesi özellikle çocuklarda güç olabilir. Bu nedenle bakteriyel gastroenterit ile akut apandisit ayrımı yapılıncaya kadara hastaların yakın takibi gerekir. Biz burada Shigella flexneriden dolayı akut apandisiti olan 10 yaşında bir erkek çocuğu takdim ettik.

Anahtar Sözcükler: Akut apandisit, Shigella flexneri, gastroenterit, çocuklar

Introduction Acute bacillary dysentery (shigellosis) occurs due to infections with shigella sp. (1). The spectrum of acute shigellosis ranges from mild watery diarrhea to severe dysentery characterized by crampy abdominal pain, tenesmus, fever, dehydration, acid-base disturbances, and signs of systemic toxicity (1,2). Infections with shigella sp. are usually self-limited and confined to the mucosa of the distal and colon (1,3). Acute appendicitis coexistent with shigellosis has only sporadically been reported in Received: February 27, 2008 Accepted: July 09, 2007 the literature (1). Surgical complications of shigellosis described in children have included appendicitis with or without perforation, colonic perforation, intestinal obstruction, and intraabdominal abscess. Shigellosis coincident with appendicitis is very rare, particularly

Correspondence in children (3), with only a few reported cases (2). Cüneyt TAYMAN Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Case Report Fatih University, Hoşdere Cad. No: 145-147 A 10-year-old boy admitted to our pediatric emergency department with a three-day 06540 Y. Ayrancı, history of bloody mucoid diarrhea, mild diffuse abdominal pain, and tenesmus. On Ankara - TURKEY admission, his vital signs were normal. There were no signs of dehydration. Abdominal [email protected] examination revealed generalized mild abdominal pain with hyperactive bowel sounds

485 TAYMAN, C et al. Appendicitis in a Child due to Shigella flexneri Turk J Med Sci

and no signs of peritoneal irritation. The remainder of the (1,6), it is difficult to determine whether the shigella was examination revealed no abnormalities. A stool specimen causally related to appendicitis or coincidental (3). revealed abundant neutrophils and mild erythrocytes, and Gilmore et al. (7) did not find any correlation between was cultured for pathogenic . An initial diagnosis appendicitis and shigellosis in 444 patients. of gastroenteritis was made and conservative Appendicitis associated with dysentery management was instituted until stool culture results has been reported in the literature (8-11). White et al. were obtained. After 24 hours, he returned with (10) reported their experience with the association of complaints of persistent vomiting, fever, increased Shigella sonnei infections and appendicitis. Twelve of 160 abdominal pain, and fatigue. Physical examination patients with acute appendicitis had positive appendicial revealed a drowsy child with signs of moderate cultures for Shigella sonnei. The precise relationship dehydration. The rectal temperature was 39°C, heart between Shigella sonnei and appendicitis is not rate was 140/min, and blood pressure was 90/50 mm clear (4). White et al, (10) considered that mucosal Hg. At this point, the abdomen was rigid with signs of edema precipitated appendiceal obstruction. Our patient’s peritoneal irritation and rebound tenderness at abdominal disease most likely resulted from shigella McBurney’s point. Rectal examination revealed no mass. infestation of the colon and . Because Shigella Laboratory studies included hemoglobin of 14.5 g/dl, flexneri was isolated from the stool obtained at admission hematocrit 39% and white blood cell count 18000/mm3, and involved the appendix culture, Shigella flexneri was with 69% segmented neutrophils. Urinalysis, serum thought to be responsible for the acute appendicitis. electrolytes and hepatic and renal function tests were In most reported cases of shigella appendicitis, the within normal limits. Abdominal ultrasound examination tentative diagnosis of shigella undoubtedly delayed revealed a swollen, edematous appendix. The surgical surgery, although the signs of acute appendicitis were consultant agreed with our decision of acute appendicitis, present (3). Delay in diagnosing the surgical condition and prompt surgical exploration revealed an acutely under these circumstances can lead to serious inflamed appendix with gangrenous changes. complications. Sanders et al. (8) described a case in which Postoperatively, the patient was treated with ampicillin, a presumptive diagnosis of shigella resulted in delayed gentamicin and clindamycin. Shigella flexneri susceptible removal of a perforated appendix. Tovar et al. (9) to ampicillin was isolated from the stool and appendix presented a further case in which gangrene and material. Thus, the treatment was completed in 10 days. perforation were found at laparotomy, and White et al. (10) reported that 6 of 12 cases had generalized at the time of operation. Phillips (11) Discussion described one patient who developed an appendix abscess Acute appendicitis and infective diarrheal illness can be after an 8-day delay in diagnosis. Haltalin (6) reported difficult to differentiate, particularly in children (4). Acute two cases of Shigella flexneri involving chronic peritonitis gastroenteritis-like disease (presenting as diffuse and colonic perforation. abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting) may be one of the In conclusion, particularly in children, acute initial signs of acute appendicitis (3). The diagnosis of appendicitis and infective diarrheal illness can be difficult appendicitis is difficult and ultimately depends on the to differentiate. Pediatricians and pediatric surgeons physical examination. Laboratory studies may be of little should thus be aware of the possibility of appendicitis and value (5). follow up closely until the differentiation between Acute bacillary dysentery (shigellosis) can clinically bacterial gastroenteritis and acute appendicitis can be mimic acute appendicitis (2,5). In the reported cases made.

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References 1. Lending RE, Buchsbaum HW, Hyland RN. Shigellosis complicated 7. Gilmore OJ, Browett JP, Griffin PH, Ross IK, Brodribb AJ, Cooke by acute appendicitis. South Med J 1986; 79: 1046-7. TJ et al. Appendicitis and mimicking conditions. A prospective study. Lancet 1975; 2: 421-4. 2. Nussinovitch M, Shapiro RP, Cohen AH, Varsano I. Shigellosis complicated by perforated appendix. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1993; 8. Sanders DY, Cort CR, Stubbs AJ. Shigellosis associated with 12: 352-3. appendicitis. J Pediatr Surg 1972; 7: 315-7. 3. Miron D, Sochotnick I, Yardeni D, Kawar B, Siplovich L. Surgical 9. Tovar JA, Trallero EP, Garay J. Appendiceal perforation and complications of shigellosis in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2000 shigellosis. Z Kinderchir 1983; 38: 419. Sep; 19(9): 898-900. 10. White ME, Lord MD, Rogers KB. Bowel infection and acute appen- 4. Doran A, Sunderland GT, Livingstone PD. Appendicitis associated dicitis. Arch Dis Child 1961; 36: 394-9. with Shigella sonnei dysentery. J R Coll Surg Edinb 1987; 32: 11. Phillips TJ. Appendicitis associated with Shigella sonnei infection. 249. Alaska Med 1969; 11: 74-6. 5. Sanders DY, Cort CR, Stubbs AJ. Shigellosis associated with appendicitis. J Pediatr Surg 1972; 7: 315-7. 6. Haltalin KC. Neonatal shigellosis. Report of 16 cases and review of the literature. Am J Dis Child 1967; 114: 603-11.

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